Shock-absorbing mechanism



Patented Nov. 20, 1928.

UNITED STATES l Laatst PATENT `savior B. HAsnL'rINE, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, Assrenon 'ro W. H. Ivinvnn, INC.; or

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

snocnaso'nnme MncI'IANIsM.

Application filed February 16, 1927. Serial Nel-68,557.

This invention relates to improvements in shock absorbing mechanisms.

One object of the invention is to provide a Vtandem spring shock absorbing mechanism adapted for'railway draft riggings, having the usual front and rear stop lugs, wherein is provided simple and efficient means for effecting compression of the springs in tandem, which Lat the same time serves to provide a column of unusual strength to limit approach of the main followers and prevent the springs from bein unduly compressed. y

Another object of the invention to provide a tandem spring shock absorbingn'iechanism of lthe character indicated, of exceptionally rugged and substantial construction,jcomprising a minimum vnumber of parts which may be readily assembled, and wherein l'all of the parts of the mechanism proper other than the springs may be manufactured economically as ordinary foundry castings.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tandem spring shock absorbing mechanism comprising only two relatively movable pressure transmitting members eo-operating with the usual main followers, wherein the pressure transmitting members are in the form of telescoped castings, each having intermediate follower means formed as an integral part thereof.

Other objects of the invention will more fully and clearly appear from the descrip-y tion and claims hereinafter following.

I'n the'drawings, forming a .part of this specification, Figure 1 is a longitudnal horizontal sectional view of a portion of a railway draft rigging, showing my improvements in connection therewith. Figure 2 is a. transverse vertical sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 2-2 of Figure 1.- And Figure 3 is a detailed perspective View of a pressure transmitting member employed in connection withmy improved mechanism;` p

In said drawings, -10 indicate vchannelsliaped center or draft sills of a railway car underframe, to the inner sides of which are secured front stop lugs 11-11 and rear stop lugs 12-12 The inner end of the drawbar is designated by 13, to which is operatively connecteda yoke 14 of well known form.

The shock absorbing mechanism proper and front and rear main followers 15 and 16 are disposed within the yoke and the yoke and the parts therewithin are supported in operative posit-ion by a detachable saddle plate 17 fixed to the draft sills.

My improved spring shock absorbingr mechanism, which co-operates with the front and rear main followers 15 and 16, comprises broadly: A combined spring eagean'd intermediate follower A; a combined pressure transmitting member and .intermediate follower B; and 'tandem arranged front and rear spring' resistance elements C-G The combined spring cage and intermediate follower A comprises a rectangular casing having longitudinally disposed spaced vertical sidewalls 18-1'8 andlongitudinally disposed horizontal spaced top and bottom walls 19-19. The casing A is open at the front and rear 'ends'an'd has Vthe rear end thereof bearing on the rear main follower' 1'6 which isin the'form of vaheavy rectangular bioclr eo-operating with 'the' stop lugs 12." The forward end of the casing A is spaced a distance from the inner side of the front main follower V15 corresponding to 'the pe`rmissible compression of the mechanism so that when the mechanism is fully compressed, the relative movement of the follower v15 and the casing A will be arrested, the casing acting as a' solid stop column to transmit the actuating forcetothe draft sills. The casing A is also provided with a vertical web 2O formed integral with the top and bottom walls of the casing and spaced from the side walls 18, as clearly shown in Figures land 2. The web 2O is disposed between the front' and rear ends of the casing A and is nearest the front end thereof. The web 2O is reinforced by three vertically disposed ribs on lthe" 'rear side thereof as clearly shown in Figure 1. The front face of the web 20 is flat and is adapted to bear on the inner ends of the coils of the front spring 'member of the tandem spring resistance elements C. The web 20 functions as a front` intermediate follower. The combined pressure transmit-` ting member and intermediate follower B comprise two longitudinally extending bar like arms 21-21 connected by antransverse web or section 22 which is reinforced on the front side thereof by horizontal ribs 23 clearly shown in Figure 3. VThe web 22v is disposed at the inner Vendsof the arms and is spaced a short distance from the .inner extremities thereof as shown in Figures 1 and 3, thereby roviding a seat or socket for the front end of the rear member of the twin spring resistanceI elements C. The side arms 21 have flat outer faces which bear on the side walls 18 of the casing A. On the inner sides, the members 21 are cut away to provide concave surfaces adapted to aecommo` date the outer side portions of the larger outer coil of the front member of the t-win springs. The rear face of the transverse web 22 is substantially flat ask clearly shown in Figure 1, and bears on the outer ends of the two coils of the rearmember of the tandem springs. The combined pressure transmitting member and intermediate follower B is assembled with the casing A by inserting` the former through the rear end of the cas` ing, thus telescoping the same therewith, so that the arms 21 will straddle the vertical web 20 of the casing A. The front ends of the arms 21 bear on the inner side of the front main follower 15.

The tandem arranged spring resistance elements comprise front and rear members C, each consisting of a relatively light inner coil and a heavier outer coil. The two coils ofthe front member C have their front ends bearing on the main follower 15 and their `rear ends bearing on the front side of the transverse web 20 which functions as a front intermediate follower and the two coils of the rear spring resistance element C have the front ends thereof bearing on the transverse web 22`0f themember B, said web function-v ing as a rear intermediate follower.V The two coils of the last named spring resistance have their rear ends bearing directly on the rear main follower 16. Y

- The operation Vof my improved shock absorbing mechanism, assuming a compression stroke, is as follows: The main followers 15 and 16 will be moved relatively toward each other, thereby moving the pressure transmitting member B inwardly of the casing A, compressing the front main spring C between the front Vfollower l5 and the front intermediate follower 2() and the rear main spring C between the rear main follower.' 16 and the rear intermediate follower 22. Compression of the mechanism will continue either until the actuating force is reduced, or until rela tive approach of the main followers 15 and 1G is limited by engagement of the main follower 15 with the front end of the casing A, where upon the actuating force will be transmitted directly through the casing'A which acts as a solid stop column. Upon the actuating pressure being reduced, the tandem springs will restore the parts to the normal position shown in Fi re 1.

f `lVhile I have herein shown Vand described what now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, the same is merelyv illustrative, and I contemplate all meente transmitting member including arms sp'anning the intermediate follower of said c asing, the outer ends of said arms being adapted to bear on the other main follower; a second intermediate follower serving as a connecting section for said arms; and tandem arranged springs, one of said tandem springs being interposed between the main follower on which said casing bears and the second named intermediate follower, and the other tandem spring being interposed between said .tirst named intermediate follower and the remaining main follower.

2. In a tandemv spring shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear main followers; of a rectangular casing open at both ends and bearing on one of saidl main followers, said casing being provided with an integral intermediate follower' connected to two opposed walls of the casing andspaced from the remaining walls thereof; a second inten mediate follower having arms formed integral therewith and spanning the first named intermedia-te follower, said arms being disposed within said casing and having the outer ends bearing on the other main follower; and tandem arrangedspring resistance means, one of said spring resistance means being interposed between the first named intermediate follower and the main follower on which the arms bear, and the other spring resistance means being interposed between the second namedintermediate follower and the main follower on which the casing bears.

3. As an article of manufacture, a onepiece pressure transmitting member andV casing for a tandem draft rigging,` said casing being of hollow tubular construction open Aat each end and provided on the interior thereof at a point adjacent, but to one side of the center thereof with an integral partition adapted to serve as an intermediate follower, said partition being spaced at its sides from vadjacent walls of the casing to thereby permit the straddling of the partition by portions of another element.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name `this 11th day of February, 1927.

STACY B.v HASELTINE. 

